Arrangement for making metallic connections between circuit points situated in one plane

ABSTRACT

An arrangement and method of manufacturing a connector for electrical circuit points lying in the same plane, such as occurs with printed circuit boards, is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a plurality of U-shaped comb-like, conducting elements, formed, for example, from etched copper foils, joined together with a layer of insulating material between the conductors. A portion of the conductors are bent to permit their insertion through the support surface of the circuit for soldering and electrical connection between the circuit points.

United States Patent 1191 Maaz Nov. 18, 1975 [54] ARRANGEMENT FOR MAKING METALLIC 3,098,951 7/1963 Ayer et al. 29/630 D ux CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CIRCUIT g 43 3 1 2 i2 1 C ['06 BL... POINTS SITUATED IN ONE PLANE 3,41 1,205 1 H1968 McGinley 29/625 [75] Inventor: Karl Maaz, Nurnberg, Germany 3,441,805 4/1969 Paulson 317/101 C 3,544,950 12 1970 L l. 29 625 UX [73] Asslgneei Slemens Aktlengesellschafi, Mumch 3,708,609 1l1973 10252 523. 2 9/624 x Germany 3,818,119 6/1974 Sutherland et al 1 29/624 X {22 Filed: Mar. 25, 1974 Primary E.\-aminerLowell A. Larson [21] Appl 454697 Assistant Examiner-Joseph A. Walkowski Related US. Application D t Attorney, Agent, or Pimp-Kenyon & Kenyon Reilly [63] Continuation Of Ser. N0. 269,839, July 7, 1972, carrgchapm abandoned,

' 57 ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 1 Jul 27 1971 German 71137587 An arrangement and method of manufacturmg a cony y nector for electrical circuit points lying in the same {52] US Cl 29/628 29/625 174/72 B, plane, such as occurs with printed circuit boards, is 317/101 517/101 disclosed. The arrangement comprises a plurality of [51] Int Cl 2 HOIR 43/00 U-shaped comb-like, conducting elements, formed, for [58] Field 628 630 example, from etched copper foils, joined together 174/68 5 72 B 6 3l7/lO1 with a layer of insulating material between the con- 101 101 B 101 ductors. A portion of the conductors are bent to permit their insertion through the support surface of the [56] References Cited circuit for soldering and electrical connection between the circuit points. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,929,964 3/1960 Rhys-Jones l74/68;5 ux 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures U.S."Pat ent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet20f 3 3,919,767

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ARRANGEMEN'IPFORII/IAKINGMETALLIC CONNECTIONS ,BE'ITWEEN CIRCUIT. POINTS ,SIT ATEDJNO EPLANE This a continuation of applica The invention'concerns'an arrangementfor making metallicconnections'between circuit points which are situated in one plane, and are separatedifr'om each other by conductors lying in the same plane.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior method of manufacturing complicated printed circuits having unavoidable crossovers was to use multi-layer techniques with plated-through holes, or by single-layer techniques with wire jumpers. The last mentioned method is very expensive from a manufacturing point of view and reduces the technical advantage sought from the use of printed circuits.

It is therefore an object of this invention to form a simple arrangement by which it is possible to make metallic connections between circuit points situated in one plane and separated from each other by conductors lying in the same plane, without using individual jumpers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION respective circuit points to be connected, and joined together by insulating material to form a comb-like unit of one or several layers.

The U-shaped parts can, for example, be made of etched copper foil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be explained more fully by reference to the drawings which illustrate various different embodiments and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a single multi-layer comb arrangement according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a double multi-layer comb arrangement according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a multi-layer recessed comb arrangement according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS and copper foil 7 is substituted for the jumper 3 (See FIG. lb). These foils are etched to correspond to the jumpers 3 and 4. The etched copper foils are then .tinned by electro-plating and a sheet of insulating material 6 is placed between the two copper foils 5 and 7 in such a manner that the holes 8 of the foils coincide. The sheet of insulating material 6 acts as an intermedi- .ate layer. AIL three foils are then cemented together.

Subsequently, the laminated foils arecut along the direction of the dot-dash lines shown in FIG. lb. When so cut one obtains, as an embodiment of the invention, the double-layer comb illustrated inFIG. 1c. The tines of the'comb are then bent upward as illustrated in FIG. 1d and the finished arrangement. according to FIG. -ld is subsequently. inserted into the. carrier. plate 1 and soldered-to the circuit points to be connected. and shown in FIG. 1e. I

, FIG..2 -shows an embodiment of the invention suitable for making metallic cross over connections betweencircuit points 2 and 3 of a printed circuit, whereinv the cross over circuitpoints are" arranged on the parallel lines A A and B B (FIG. 2a). The required jumpers are indicated by 3 and 4 and the conductors 9 separate the circuit points from each other. FIG. 2b illustrates the necessary steps in the manufacture of the arrangement according to the invention. The procedure is the same as was already described in connection with FIG. lb. Similar parts are designated with the same reference numbers. After laminating the copper foils 5 and 7 with the insulating material foil 6 between the two foils and subsequently cutting along the dot-dash lines, a double comb as illustrated in FIG. 2c is produced. The U-shaped parts 3 and 4 form the jumpers. The tines of the double comb are then bent upward as shown in FIG. 2d and the double comb, consisting of the jumpers 3 and 4, separated from each other by the insulating material 6, is then inserted through the conductor plate 1 and soldered to the circuit points as illustrated in FIG. 2e.

FIG. 3 schematically represents another further example of an embodiment of the invention. It illustrates a printed circuit whose terminal points are to be connected metallically in a predetermined manner by means of a multi-layer comb which is here arranged in a recessed manner. The carrier 1 (FIG. 3a) is equipped with a slot 10. The carrier 1 is clad with an insulating foil 11 and a copper foil 12 (FIG. 3b) in such a manner that the slot 10 is covered. A printed circuit is made by known methods from the copper foil. The ends to be crossed over are situated over slot 10 shown in FIG. 30. After the insulating foil is appropriately cut, the ends 2 with the exposed insulating foil 11 are folded into the slot 10 and the ends 2 are connected with the tines of the multi-layer comb made from the foils 5, 6 and 7 shown in FIG.3d. FIG. 3e shows a top view of the finished multi-layer comb.

In the foregoing, the invention has been described in reference to specific exemplary embodiments. It will be evident, however, that variations and modifications, as well as the substitution of equivalent constructions and arrangements for those shown for illustration, may be made without departing from the broader scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

I claim:

1. A method for manufacturing metallic electric connectors for circuit points lying in the same plane on a carrier plate, comprising the steps of:

a. preparing first and second rectangular copper foils of equal size;

b. etching central portions of said first and second copper foils to form conductive paths which cross each other when aligned, said etching being con- 3 4 trolled so that said paths are contained within a tines of which form the conduction paths between solid rectangular border at the edges of said rectanv i i i and l r l Q i I g. bending the tines for insertion into openings in a i l Said etched copper feds} carrier plate to permit soldering and connecting of d. msetmg a rectangular sheet of insulating material 5 the circuit points.

having a length essentially the same as said foils and having a width substantially narrower than that of said foils between the etched copper foils so that theln ede fsadfilsext d If s"d'- g i i g l 0 en 0U mm H m 0 3. The method according to claim 1, further include. cementing said copper foils to said insulating mate'- ing the Step of forming g i holesin each f Said rial; first and second foils and said insulatlon material at f. cutting away the exposed borders on both sides of each end thereof.

said insulating material to form a layered comb, the

2. The method according to claim I, wherein said step of etching comprises etching U-shaped conductive paths on said copper foils. 

1. A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC ELECTRIC CONNECTORS FOR CIRCUIT POINTS IN THE SAME PLANE ON A CARRIER PLATE, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. PREPARING FIRST AND SECOND RECTANGULAR COPPER FOILS OF EQUAL SIZE; B. ETCHING CENTRAL PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COPPER FOILS TO FORM CONDUCTIVE PATHS WHICH CROSS EACH OTHER WHEN ALIGNED, SAID ETCHING BEING CONTROLLED SO THAT SAID PATHS ARE CONTAINED WITHIN A SOLID RECTANGULAR BORDER AT THE EDGES OF SAID RECTANGULAR FOIL; C. TINNING SAID ETCHED COPPER FOIL; D. INSERTING A RECTANGULAR SHEET OF INSULATING MATERIAL HAVING A LENGTH ESSENTIALLY THJE SAME AS SAID FOILS AND HAVING A WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY NARROWER THAN THAT OF SAID FOILS BETWEEN THE ETCHED COPPER FOILS SO THAT THE LONG EDGES OF SAID FOILS EXTEND OUT FROM SAID INSULATING MATERIAL E. CEMENTINHG SAID COPPER FOILS TO SAID INSULATING MATERIAL; F. CUTTING AWAY THE EXPOSED BORDERS ON BOTH SIDES OF SAID INSULATING MATERIAL TO FORM A LAYERED COMB, THE TINES OF WHICH FORM THE CONDUCTION PATHS BETWEEN CIRCUIT POINTS; AND G. BENDING THE TINES FOR INSERTION INTO OPENINGS IN A CARRIER PLATE TO PERMIT SOLDERING AND CONNECTING OF THE CIRCUIT POINTS.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of etching comprises etching U-shaped conductive paths on said copper foils.
 3. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of forming alignment holes in each of said first and second foils and said insulation material at each end thereof. 